Where Did the Water Go!?

 New Melones Reservoir is drying up. 

Where did the water go? This section near Ironhorse campground has no water. 

This was how it looked in March. We had a feeling we would be seeing no water. 

We walked from the road all the way to the closed boat launch area.  

We did find some water, but this is so sad looking. No fish and no water birds were seen. We are concerned for the Ospreys that come here yearly. What will they eat?

Normally this is way under water. 

The cement bucket on top is for the buoy that now hangs down and is resting on the ground. Those close by hills should be under water too. 

Looking across at what should be all water. Where the green trees are is the location of the campground.  I can now say that I have walked on the bottom of this reservoir. 

Back at camp site, one can barely see some water through the trees. It's like "I spy" game. 

Some how the deer are hanging in there. These two are headed off to an acorn patch to munch on acorns before the sun sets.

A peek at the water level from the camp site across from our's. 

Sadly, California needs major storms this winter to fill up this reservoir and many others in the state. Hopefully the Sierras will get lots of snow so that the spring runoff will help fill the reservoirs. 

Where's the Water

We went to New Melones Lake to check out if the Osprey were back and nesting at the walk-in sites at the Ironhorse Campground. Yup! They were there. Always fun to watch them from our site!

What we also discovered was that the water level is decreasing. We could barely see the water from our site. The park ranger informed us that they have to release water for the community downstream that depends on the water from New Melones when their lake is running low.

The water is super low. All that green up to the brown looking ring was once under water. That finger of the lake is now looking like a pond. I hate to see what it will look like come this summer.

After our regular hike of Carson Creek Trail and up to Tower Climb (first day's hike), we headed over to the Angels Creek Boat Launch (second day's hike). We hiked along the Frontier Trail, over to the boat launch area. Sadly, this area is now closed because there is no water close to the boat launch. 

Looking down at the very end of the launch, there is only plants. From this point, we decided to walk along the remaining water's edge to get back to camp. 

Basically we were walking in the area of the lake that should be well under water. The water at one time went up to the trees on the hill.

This was once a fence. All that is left of the fence is the rusty metal poles. This too was once way under water. 

We walked from the launch, right top, to the tip of the water, center left, and then up the slope, left, to the campground.  It was fun exploring an area that is normally under water. 

Back at camp enjoying my matcha tea and watching the Osprey!